My 5 Favorite Winter Climbing Areas in California

My 5 Favorite Winter Climbing Areas in California | Just as the summer months here in California are a great time for high altitude alpine climbing and hiking in the Sierra Nevada, the cold temperatures of the winter months make for some great lower elevation desert rock climbing! Whether you love to sport climb, trad climb, or boulder, I've listed 5 of my favorite areas to climb in California in the winter months, and there is a little bit of everything for every style of climber. Happy Sending! | shedreamsofalpine.com

Rock Climbing Self Rescue

There I was, belaying Michael up from the trad anchor I had just set up on this 5.10a multipitch climb in Owen's River Gorge, CA. All of a sudden my rope went tight. What the heck? That's when I heard the crash of a boulder on the ground and I peered over the edge to find Michael knocked out cold. Fuck.

Sport Climbing at Echo Cliffs, California

I recently had a conversation with my dad (post-epic bike crash and stitches in my forehead... more to come on that one later) in which he asked me when people like me (climbers, thrill seekers.. etc.) stop doing what they do... what age are typical climbers? I answered, "well shoot dad, I know climbers from age 8 to age 60"... "ya, ya, but when do most climbers stop climbing?".... I think I answered, "well unless they've fallen out of love with climbing, then never... unless their wives make them."

Mammoth Lakes, CA - Dog Boulder, TJ Lakes and Clark Canyon

Back towards the end of June I got to go up to Mammoth Lakes to do some camping and climbing. Mammoth is hands down one of my most favorite areas to go visit in California... not just exclusively because of Mammoth, but the areas close to Mammoth as well (June Lake, Clark Canyon, Owens River Gorge, Bishop, Lone Pine... etc.) are all so close to it. I just love this area. Its gorgeous, and I want to live here. I'm pretty much down to go here any time I can. Winter or summer... its a fantastic playground. So when Marc invited me to join a group going up there in June, I didn't hesitate to jump on board.We stayed at a sweet campsite area in Mammoth Lakes called Shady Rest Campground which I had never been to before. It's not exactly roughing it, but it was a cool car camping site that is really accessible to all parts of the Mammoth area.I drove up Friday evening, and joined the crew at their campsite.